Buffer requirements for loss-free handovers in wireless ATM networks

The provision of mobility services in ATM networks requires the definition of handover procedures that allow the proper re-routing of connections to and from the mobile terminal while it roams through the network. If QoS requirements are to be met, the handover procedure must avoid cell loss and misordering; as a consequence, cells must be buffered during the handover. This paper studies the buffering requirements within the ATM network, assuming that the handover procedure is performed following a protocol proposed by the authors, and based on in-band signaling.